At $800, This Dreame Wet-Dry Vacuum Is More Than I Need, Though It Left My Floors Impressively Clean

3 min readThere are few chores I dislike more than mopping. Thankfully, my combination robot vacuum takes care of most of the everyday dirt and debris in my home, but it can’t do as much for sticky kitchen spills and stubborn grime. And because I have gray laminate flooring throughout my apartment, I don’t always know how dirty the floors are until I actually start cleaning them.The Dreame Aero Ultra Steam has been on my radar for a while. This wet-dry vacuum combines powerful suction with hot water, steam, and foaming cleaning solution to take care of most household messes.It has plenty of bells and whistles that aren’t found on other wet-dry vacuums, but the extras come with some extra heft. During testing, I found that there’s a lot to like here—but it’s not necessarily the machine I’d reach for every time my floors need a quick cleanup.ProsImpressive suction powerThree-in-one cleaning method loosens stuck on grime and remove hidden dirtLie-flat design gets under furniture better than other modelsLong runtime on Eco modeConsDisplay screen is complicatedHeavyKey SpecsRuntimeUp to 100 minTank Capacity100 mLWeight18.3 lbEfficient Cleaning for Household MessesThe Dreame Aero Ultra Steam has five different modes—Auto, Turbo, Eco, Steam, and Suction—and I mostly ran mine on Auto because it provided enough cleaning power without draining the battery too quickly. The mop roller stayed consistently saturated with water and foaming solution as I cleaned, and it left behind long, even tracks without noticeable streaks.Amber JoglarYou can cycle through cleaning modes, monitor cycle progression, and track battery life from the handle.The heated steam function is a useful feature, and it’s something my other wet-dry vacuum, the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce, can’t do. It helped to loosen gunk on my tile bathroom floors and laminate, making messes that would otherwise require some elbow grease a lot easier to handle.Suction was also impressively powerful, picking up loose debris and dirty water as I moved across the floor. The clean water and solution tanks are in the floor vacuum head, and the used water tank is on the back of the main body, so filling and emptying are both straightforward.Heavyweight, With a Helping HandThis thing is heavy (18.3 pounds). It’s almost comparable to the weight of a full-size carpet cleaner, but with less capacity. Fortunately, the GlideWheel power system provides power-assisted movement, so pushing and pulling the vacuum requires considerably less heavy effort than its weight would suggest.Amber JoglarThe Aero Ultra Steam is pretty heavy, weighing over 18 pounds.I also love that this model lays completely flat. I was able to clean under and around my dining room table without having to move any of the chairs and to reach those annoying areas that are usually a pain to clean. For a machine this bulky, that flexibility goes a long way.The Dock Handles the Dirty WorkAfter cleaning, I returned the Aero Ultra to its dock to charge and ran a washing cycle to clean the mop roller. This is one of the features that makes the wet-dry vacuum feel a lot more convenient than a traditional mop. Instead of manually rinsing out a dirty roller, the machine handles the cleaning for me, and its drying function helps get the roller ready for the next use.Amber JoglarI was able to run the self-cleaning cycle and drying mode while the wet-dry vacuum charged in the docking station.Impressive Features, but Not My Everyday PickThe Aero Ultra Steam packs a lot into one floor cleaner, including steam, hot-water mopping, powerful suction, and automatic roller washing and drying. The steam and hot water were useful for loosening sticky and dried-on messes, while the lay-flat design made it easier to clean under furniture than I was expecting.I have a few hesitations, though. My Bissell wet-dry vacuum is considerably lighter than this model, and it also gives me separate vacuum and mop modes. I prefer having that option for when I just need to vacuum up a small mess without wetting the floor.Amber JoglarThough I might pick something more lightweight for everyday messes, the Aero Ultra Steam is powerful for deep cleaning.I also think the controls and display panel on the Aero Ultra could be more intuitive. It got confusing clicking one button to cycle through the various options, and the three-bar indicator light at the top was used for tracking battery and the progression status of the cleaning cycle. It’s a minor complaint, but a touch control panel or a few extra buttons would probably make it easier to manage.Final ThoughtsUltimately, I think the Dreame Aero Ultra Steam makes the most sense for someone who wants a wet-dry vacuum with more advanced floor-care features and doesn’t mind its heft. I was impressed by how well it cleaned messes that were practically glued to the floor, and the steam, hot-water washing, and self-cleaning capabilities are functional rather than gimmicky.If you’re looking for a machine that can do more than just vacuum up debris and wipe your floors, this is a solid option. For quick spills and everyday maintenance, I’d probably still reach for something lighter and more nimble.Shop the Dreame Aero Ultra Steam Wet-Dry VacuumMore Wet-Dry Vacuums We RecommendBest for Light-Duty CleaningAmber is a Reviews Editor with bylines on Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Best Products sites. Specializing in kitchen gadgets, small appliances, lifestyle, and consumer tech, she brings hands-on testing and a detail-oriented approach to every review. In her free time you can likely find her trading trinkets at an EDM festival, searching for hidden gems at thrift stores, or cuddling with her two cats.